Hockey / Welcome Back Director of Goaltender Development!

Welcome Back Director of Goaltender Development!

Date:  Source: DVHL : Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth
Hockey Ops is pleased to announce that James Pierson will be returning as our Director of Goaltender
Development. James did an incredible job this season with all of our goaltenders and we are thrilled to
have him back for another season. We have a tremendous plan in place for the 2017/2018 season, that
will provide our goaltenders the best training possible.
 
James Pierson has been passionate about youth athletic development for a very long time. For the last
20 plus years James has served as a coach, a mentor and a student of the game of hockey. The coaching
journey began when he was a Midget goalie with the Lehigh Valley Comets in the DVHL; James used to
spend days at the rink helping younger goalies hone their skills.
 
After Junior Hockey and a degree in hand a job presented itself that prided itself in coaching and
developing. The years of experience and promotions led to an acquisition of development skills that
would serve youth athletes for years to come. With the learnings and experience, mixed with a stroke
of luck, James found his way back into coaching in 2010 and has been involved since.
 
The use of challenging and competitive environments, alongside an emphasis on movements and
edgework, are a staple to his style. Goaltenders are tasked to use their problem-solving abilities to
resolve deficiencies and improve their skills. The use of experience mapping and age specific
programming help James provide the goaltenders with a balanced approach that improves baseline
skills and elements.
 
This past year James saw a lot of success as he served as the Director of Goaltender Development for
the Elite Program and the Head Goalie Coach for the Phantoms Youth. Additionally, James was added to
the USA Hockey Instructor Staff. He was given the humbling experience to serve as a goalie coach for
the US Women’s National Sled Hockey team while they were in town.
 
After a positive year of growth among goalies he has worked with, James will be back again for the 2016-
2017 season.